Calibration method and system for a fast steering mirror

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10330460-B2
Application number	US-201715621230-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2017
Priority date	Jun 13, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A calibration system for calibrating a tilt angle of the fast steering mirror includes a position sensing device configured to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation, and a diffractive optical element, positioned between the position sensing device and the fast steering mirror, the diffractive optical element being configured to divide the input beam into a plurality of output beams directed to the fast steering mirror. The position sensing device is configured to determine a tilt angle of the fast steering mirror. A method to calibrate a tilt angle of the fast steering mirror is further disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A calibration system for calibrating a tilt angle of fast steering mirror, the calibration system comprising:
a position sensing device configured to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation; and
a diffractive optical element, positioned between the position sensing device and the fast steering mirror, the diffractive optical element being configured to divide the input beam into a plurality of output beams directed to the fast steering mirror,
wherein the position sensing device is configured to determine a tilt angle of the fast steering mirror.

2. The calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the position sensing device includes an interferometer attached to a fixed surface.

3. The calibration system of claim 2 , wherein the interferometer is configured to generate light.

4. The calibration system of claim 1 , wherein each output beam retains the same optical characteristics as the input beam, including size, polarization and phase.

5. The calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to generate one of a 1-dimensional beam array and a 2-dimensional beam matrix.

6. The calibration system of claim 5 , wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to be used with monochromatic light generated by the position sensing device, and is designed for a specific wavelength and angle of separation between output beams.

7. The calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the diffractive optical element includes a computer generated hologram.

8. The calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the fast steering mirror includes a reflective surface, and is configured to manipulate the reflective surface to control a direction of the reflection of electromagnetic radiation off of the reflective surface.

9. The calibration system of claim 8 , wherein the fast steering mirror further includes a fixed base, a pivot flexure or bearing, which couples the reflective surface to the base, and several actuators each configured to move the reflective surface relative to the base.

10. A method to calibrate a tilt angle of fast steering mirror, the method comprising:
generating an input beam of electromagnetic radiation from a position sensing device;
dividing the input beam into a plurality of output beams directed to the fast steering mirror; and
determining a tilt angle of the fast steering mirror based on a reflection of the output beams by the fast steering mirror.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the input beam is generated by a position sensing device, and the plurality of output beams are created by a diffractive optical element between the position sensing device and the fast steering mirror.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the position sensing device includes an interferometer attached to a fixed surface, the interferometer being configured to generate light.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein each output beam retains the same optical characteristics as the input beam, including size, polarization and phase.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein diffractive optical element is configured to generate one of a 1-dimensional beam array and a 2-dimensional beam matrix.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to be used with monochromatic light generated by the position sensing device, and is designed for a specific wavelength and angle of separation between output beams.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein diffractive optical element includes a computer generated hologram.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fast steering mirror includes a reflective surface, and is configured to manipulate the reflective surface to control a direction of the reflection of electromagnetic radiation off of the reflective surface.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fast steering mirror further includes a fixed base, a pivot flexure or bearing, which couples the reflective surface to the base, and several actuators each configured to move the reflective surface relative to the base.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Heideman Kyle
• Bullard Andrew
• Jenkins Matthew E
• Anagnost John J

Classifications

• G02B26/0825

  the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus (flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24) · CPC title

• G02B26/0816

  by means of one or more reflecting elements · CPC title

• G02B7/1827

  Motorised alignment · CPC title

• G03H1/08

  Synthesising holograms, {i.e. holograms synthesized from objects or objects from holograms}(using electric digital computers G06F; G06T) · CPC title

• G01B9/02069 Primary

  Synchronization of light source or manipulator and detector · CPC title